Lylie Happiness
OSHAKATI, July 22 – Omuthiya Town Council is engaged in a war of words with a member of the public Samuel Shinedima over the Othithiya festival and is demanding a public apology from him within 24 hours.
The council claims Shinedima defamed its reputation/image and interrupted the preparation of the event as well as created a bad impression on the council’s potential investors and stakeholders in general.
On 13 July 2022, Shinedima wrote Omuthiya Town Council through his lawyer Salomon Kanyemba legal practitioners claiming that Omuthiya Town Council had duplicated or copied his idea and concept of the Othithiya Festival.
Shinedima further claimed that he made a presentation to the management committee on 16 July 2019 and the committee expressed satisfaction although he did not get any approval from the council or express an interest to participate in his event.
The Town Council however responded to the lawyers’ letter: “Mr Samuel Shinedima has no trademark or rights reserved, patented, copyrighted and registered over ‘Othithiya Festival’ with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority of Namibia.”
The council continued that at no given point did it steal Mr Shinedima’s idea or concept of the Othithiya Festival as alleged.
The council added that Othithiya is a natural spring under Omuthiya Town’s jurisdiction, which is utilized by the public and can be privatized through trademarks or patents. All members of the public have the right to host events there.
“The Omuthiya Othithiya Festival was a proposal by LaTangi Investment CC, which proposed a partnership to host the event. Council considered the proposal and approved the partnership agreement,” said the council adding that it had recommended including a Career Fair due to demand from the community.
Shinedima could not be reached for comment.
